Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Last Friday (12/23) Brady had his first doctor appointment. It was a relatively painless appointment other than the fact that we forgot the diaper bag (yeah, parents of the year!) and that when we got there they told us our appointment was the day before...never a dull moment! Our pediatrician sees babies at 2 locations and there was a mix-up with our appointment but thankfully they were kind of enough to go ahead & see us.

His check-up went great...he gained weight (weighed in at 7lbs 5 oz) and everything else checked out great.

Here is our sweet boy ("our bear cub" as Daddy likes to say) on the way to the Dr.

Daddy holding him at his first appointment

Today we had another follow-up for the newborn screening or PKU. Momma did NOT like the PKU part, I had to try my hardest to hold back tears. Thankfully Daddy was there to help :)

Brady is a growing boy...he is now up to 7lbs 14oz & everything else looked great according to Dr.

We are so thankful for a healthy baby boy!

After our appointment, we decided to have our first lunch out. Mom meet us at Hu-Dat Noodle House. Brady did so good - he slept the entire time even with ALL the noise!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

I have been doing lots of nursing and napping. We are sleeping much better now that mommy's milk has come in.

sleeping & snuggling with Daddy

and with Coco. Coco loves her new baby brother!

Yesterday (12/21) I tried out the swing for the first time & loved it.

We also had our first family outing today. We went to a gift shop in Sinton to get a few last minute Christmas gifts then we stopped at Dairy Queen to get a cold drink.

Here I am being a good boy waiting in the car while Mimi & mommy shop.

Tomorrow, we go for his first pediatrician check-up so I'll be back with a blog all about that.

Today, I (mommy) actually got dressed, put on make-up, did my hair, & put on normal clothes. I've been in pj's since I got home. I felt like a whole new person. I am feeling better each & every day and getting around gets easier, as well. I am trying to enjoy & soak up each & every moment because I know before I look up, he will be 6 months old & I am NOT ready for that, ha!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

So I am only a few days away from meeting my baby boy, my first born, my son!

Dear Brady Allen,

Soon you will make your way into this world. We have been anxiously awaiting your arrival and couldn't be more excited to see your sweet face. I often wonder what you or who you will look like. If you will look like your handsome daddy or if you will favor me, your sweet mommy! They say you have hair - which is funny because neither your daddy or I had hair when we were born. I wonder what color eyes you will have. I so hope you have your daddy's blue eyes. There are so many things I wonder about you...about what kind of baby you will be? What kind of kid you will be? What kind of things you will like when you are older? If you like macaroni and cheese like your daddy or if you like pancakes like me? And just who you will be in general? Of course, an Aggie - right?!

I pray everyday that you will have a heart for Jesus and that you will know how very loved you are. There are so many people who are just waiting to meet you, hold you, and love on you. Also, Jesus had a plan for you even before you make your debut into this world. I know he has big plans for you!

I can admit that I will miss being your personal carrier. I'm sure I'll miss feeling you move around inside my tummy. I will miss knowing I'm your one & only at this point. We have had an amazing bond from the beginning, one that no one else could have with you. You have been all mine for the last 9 months so I'm thinking I'll be just a wee bit protective of you once you arrive :) and probably for the rest of your life. That's what moms are for!

Your daddy and I cannot wait to meet you, kiss you, and love on you. You aren't even here yet but we already love you so very much!

If there's one thing I do know...it is that you will be blessed!

I love you forever & always!

Love,

Mommy

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

Best Moment this week: Doctor telling us that we will be having a baby next week! Eeekkk!!! So surreal...

Oh another wonderful story, I don't want to forget. Most morning I try to stop at the Shell station (Texas Star) for some hot chocolate. I've carved hot chocolate while I've been pregnant. There are always 2 ladies in there working the register. They are always so kind & cheerful. The lady who was ringing me up asked of course the typical oh when are you due? You look like you are about to have a baby any day now...I said yes ma'am, hopefully sooner than later but I am due December 23rd. She says "oh a Christmas miracle, how awesome is that?" I said yeah I'm pretty blessed. She said, "oh what a wonderful blessing. It is the best thing in the word!" She went on to tell me about her twins and how she has a boy & he is so much fun! She said well God bless you & your b baby & I hope everything goes well for you. I kindly thanked her and walked out to my car.

When I got into my car, tears filled my eyes! See that morning I just did not want to get out of bed...it was just one of those mornings. It was at that moment that I thought, it is amazing where God might show up! At the local gas station...while I'm buying hot chocolate...while I'm extremely late to work & stressed over being late...again! I felt so loved by that conversation by a lady I don't even know. I also thought once again, how awesome is it that yet another person shared in the joys of me having a baby. To me it was just another reminder that God never forgets about us...He shows up when we least expect Him to and in the most unusual places.

Monday, December 5, 2011

I think I'll take it away & read it often this Christmas season. Especially since I'm feeling the weight of Christmas, preparing for a baby, and the weight of all my to-do list. I don't want to miss a moment due to waiting to rush what is to come.

"whenever Christmas begins to burden, it’s a sign that I’ve taken on something of the world and not of Christ.Any weight in Christmas has to be of this world. Christ came into this world as grace to lift all the weighty burdens.

Christ the Babe comes to us in Christmas as Christ the Savior comes to us on the Cross —seeking only our embrace."

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Even though I've been waiting for December for some time...I can't believe it's here!

I feel like I never have time to blog but yet I feel like I have so much to blog about...so this post is going to be an all over, catch-up, kind of post.

On November 17th, my in-laws took us out to eat for my birthday on top of the Omni Hotel at The Republic of Texas. It was lovely evening, where we enjoyed delicious steak! The next night, we went to The Republic of Texas again to eat, ha! Our sweet family friend Jan called us Friday evening and said she had made reservations for us and to be ready at 6. It was a wonderful surprise, even though we had gone the night before. I ended up ordering the shrimp this time & they were the BEST shrimp I've ever eaten! It was great company and the view of the bay was beautiful!

Us at dinner...

Saturday night we ended up going out to eat with our good friends Jones & Stephanie. They came and picked us up & treated us to sushi & a "bun" bowl, which is like an Asian salad. We also made a stop by Hobby Lobby :)

Sunday, the 20th was my actual birthday and it was also our first Sunday in our new church. It was a packed service, which was great to see. We normally eat Dairy Queen every Sunday after church, it's just what you do in a small town but Ms. Jan called and suggested we go to The Railroad Seafood Station instead since it was my birthday. They have the most delicious fried shrimp and seafood sauce, so once again I was treated to another, wonderful birthday meal.

Allen thinks I am rather spoiled but I told him...he also got to partake in all the birthday meals so I don't see what the problem is.

I also got several charms for my Pandora bracelet. AB was not supposed to get me anything since the camera was my gift but I see he didn't listen. Here are the ones he got me...

2 of these pink ones

But I have to agree I felt very loved over my birthday!

I only had to work the Monday & Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, which was wonderful.

My parents came over Thanksgiving break and we spent most of our time working around the house. AB built me a beautiful bed for our bedroom. He also ripped out the carpet in our bedroom and laid new laminate flooring down. And him and my mom painted our bedroom a beautiful pewter color, thanks to Pinterest.

We also hosted our very first Thanksgiving. My mom cooked a turkey breast (since it was just the 4 of us) and we had sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, my mom's delicious cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, rolls, and of course buttermilk pie & a pecan pie.

My mom also organized Brady's room and closet and washed a good amount of his clothes and blankets.

I also had a school baby shower the day before we went on Thanksgiving break...I will post about that later this week.

And I managed to finish sewing the curtains for our living room, finally! Only been hmm a few months I've been working on them. At least they are now complete & that's one more thing checked off my list.

In other news...baby news of course! We went to birthing class and we've gone to infant CPR class. We had another ultrasound to measure the baby & well he has some chubby little cheeks! He is also measuring about 5-7 days ahead. We have another ultrasound and appointment this Thursday & my Dr is finally going to check me. Pray we have made some progress...I am ready to have this baby! We also have a hospital tour and breastfeeding class, woohoo! :)

AB also installed the car-seat this past week so we are ready!

His room is pretty much complete, just a few finishing touches (like a rug, curtains, & to hang a few things on the wall). That is what is my to do list this week...so maybe we could wait a week before his arrival ;)

So I think that about catches me up...except I'm sure I forgot some things since I'm not really on top of things these days.

I will say that decorating for Christmas 9 months pregnant is no fun...I don't suggest it, ha! But thankfully I have an amazing husband who is willing & ready to help me anytime I call :)

So this is really late & I am so sad that I don't even have a picture for week 36. I guess between all the Thanksgiving festivities I just completely forgot. And sadly I didn't even get 1 picture of me over the Thanksgiving holiday or over my birthday...

How Far Along: 36 weeks

Size of baby: size of a honeydew melon, just over 5 lbs

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I don't know didn't weigh...but according to the Dr's office I lost a pound, which AB said was impossible with all the birthday eating I did.